Page 7 of Factory Reset

“There’s my favorite girl!”

Sofia pressed a wet kiss against the corner of my jaw and my heart melted. I loved this kid more than I’d ever thought was possible. I’d never been much interested in being around kids until Sofia came into my life. And I’d never even considered having one of my own, until the day I laid eyes on Cassie. Now the idea had some appeal.

I heard a soft gasp and turned with my niece in my arms. Cassandra stood in the doorway wearing faded jeans that hugged her curves and a pink knit top with a scoop neck. She looked freaking edible. Her eyes were fixed on Sofia.

“Oh hey Cassie. How you doing?”

Our eyes met and held for a long moment, the air charged between us, before my sister interrupted.

“Oh, do you go by Cassie instead of Cassandra?”

Cassie shook her head. “Everyone calls me Cassandra.” Her eyes returned to mine. “Except your brother.”

I’d started calling her that on the first day she was on site. It suited her. She’d given up correcting me after the first couple of times, making me think maybe she liked it. I loved the idea that it was a name only I used for her.

My sister gave me an appraising look. I know she’d suspected that there was something going on between us when I’d begged her to offer Cassie the house to stay in. Inviting her for dinner had been all Josie’s idea. Not that I was sad about it.

A while later we were eating dinner when my sister launched into interrogation mode. She was a notorious matchmaker, and nosy as hell to boot. David and I shared a glance as Josie leaned forward and pinned Cassie with a stare.

“Where do you live, Cassandra?”

Josie always opened with a softball question.

“In Colorado,” she answered.

“Colorado? Isn’t where Allen’s girlfriend is from?”

“That’s Oregon,” I answered. At Cassie’s questioning look I added, “Allen is our cousin who lives in Houston. He’s a police detective and his girlfriend is an ER doctor there.”

“So much traveling doesn’t leave you a lot of time for relationships, does it?” Josie asked. “I don’t see a ring so I’m guessing you’re not married? Are you engaged? Living with someone? Dating anyone seriously?”

Cassie’s eyes shifted to me, then back to my sister. “No, I’m not in a relationship right now.”

I resisted the urge to pump my fist into the air.

“George is single too you know,” my sister continued. “He’s been single for a long, long time.”

Her tone of voice clearly implied that I was pathetic.

“Josie,” David interjected. “Cassandra is here to do a job, not to find a boyfriend. Let the poor woman eat her dinner.”

My sister ignored her husband. “You know, George should show you around the area this weekend. You two can get to know each other better.” Her face brightened. “You should take her to the ranch! Then you can go horseback riding.”

Allen’s parents, my aunt and uncle, owned a ranch about forty-five minutes from here. Both Josie and I visited our family frequently.

“I usually work on the weekends,” Cassie answered noncommittally. “It’s a good time to synthesize everything I learn during the week.”

“You can’t work all the time. Besides, George doesn’t have anything to do this weekend.”

Seeing Cassie’s uncomfortable look I interjected, “Actually, Bart and I were planning on goin’ fishing.”

Josie waved her hand dismissively. “Bart won’t mind if she comes along.”

“Is Bart your...son?” Cassie asked. “Brother?”

I shook my head. “No ma’am, he’s my puppy.”

Josie snorted. “Puppy? Bart’s a hundred in dog years if he’s a day.”